DEATH AFTER ARREST-NORTH CAROLINA

Police: 5 officers resign after Black man’s death in custody

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Officials have announced that five North Carolina police officers have resigned amid accusations they failed to seek immediate medical attention for a Black man who died after fatally ingesting drugs. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said Thursday that the officers left their roles after he recommended them for dismissal. He said they didn’t follow a policy of seeking medical assistance for Harold Easter, a 41-year-old suspect who ingested crack cocaine during his arrest. Easter suffered a medical emergency in an interview room and died three days later. Prosecutors said they couldn’t charge the officers because they couldn’t prove Easter would’ve lived even with immediate medical attention.

AP-US-ELECTION-2020-VOTING-LEGAL-CHALLENGES

In big states, tiny counties, Trump attacking voting rules

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — President Trump’s reelection campaign and his allies in the Republican party are working the election referees. They’re peppering some of the thousands of local elections offices around the country with complaints and demands as voting begins the presidential election. In North Carolina they are urging local officials to ignore new procedures mandated by the state’s Democratic-controlled Board of Elections. In Pennsylvania, they’re demanding access to satellite election offices where poll watchers aren’t allowed. In Wisconsin, they’re demanding sports teams not go to voter registration drives. Experts say it’s about limiting voting and blowing minor issues out of proportion so Trump can sow doubt about the election.

ELECTION 2020-NORTH CAROLINA-SENATE

Tillis, Cunningham spar over Supreme Court, absentee voting

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham sparred on issues related to the Supreme Court and absentee voting during a senate debate. Cunningham said he’d meet with President Donald Trump’s nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, and give her consideration. Tillis said she shouldn’t have to recuse herself in matters related to the 2020 presidential election if she were confirmed. Tillis expressed concerns over proposed changes to the state board of elections proposal to send out affidavits to voters who did not fill out required witness information on their ballot. Cunningham declined to share his views on Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s plans for taxes and climate change.

BC-NC-CMS ENROLLMENT

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools see 3.2% drop in enrollment

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have experienced a 3.2% drop in student enrollment. That amounts to nearly 5,000 students. The Charlotte Observer reported Friday that  there were 142,177 students enrolled. Last year’s head count was 146,888. The enrollment drop falls in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In previous years, a steep decline would affect state funding is directly tied to student enrollment. But legislation passed by the state’s General Assembly holds school districts harmless for enrollment drops because of he pandemic. CMS began the year with virtual-only instruction. School board members recently approved a plan to gradually bring students back.

AP-US-ELECTION-2020-NORTH-CAROLINA-ABSENTEE-BALLOTS

NC halts plan to resolve ballot issue with voter affidavits

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina State Board of Election has sent out a memo encouraging county elections officials to suspend a program allowing voters to sign an affidavit to make up for the lack of a witness signature on their ballots. Thousands of North Carolina voters have failed to provide witness information on the back of their return envelopes, a requirement for the ballots to be accepted. The board issued guidance last week to correct that problem by giving voters an affidavit rather than a new ballot. But the settlement is being reviewed in state and federal court. A federal judge has expressed concern that the new protocols would upend the witness requirement.

BC-NC-CHURCH ZOOM BOMBING-INVESTIGATION

Authorities investigating ‘Zoom bombing’ of church

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after someone committed a so-called “Zoom-bombing” of a North Carolina church’s virtual worship service. The Greensboro News & Record reported Wednesday that Minister Nicholas Glenn of the Sharpe Road Church of Christ filed a complaint with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. A sheriff’s office spokeswoman said the case has been turned over to an internet crimes detective. But it’s unclear if any charges could be filed. The congregation had switched to virtual services because of the coronavirus pandemic. The so-called Zoom “bombers” had identified themselves as white supremacists. They also typed “black lives don’t matter” and other disturbing language.

AP-NC-AMAZON-JOBS

Amazon said it will hire 1,100 for sort center in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Amazon says it will hire more than 1,000 people for a sort center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday that the e-commerce giant opened its new 600,000-square-foot sort center on Sept. 20. The company said it will bring in 1,100 full and part-time workers to the facility. Hiring has begun and positions are still available at both the new Charlotte sort center as well as a Concord delivery station. The company said pay starts at $15 an hour plus benefits for full-time employees. Amazon now has 17 sites in the state. The Seattle-based company said it has more than 6,000 employees in North Carolina.

OFF-CAMPUS SHOOTING

Police: 4 NC A&T State University students shot off-campus

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Police say four North Carolina A&T State University students were wounded during a shooting off-campus. Greensboro Police Spokesperson Ron Glenn said the shooting happened around 4 p.m. Wednesday at an off-campus apartment complex. The school sent out an alert around 5:30 p.m. Two victims were in critical condition and the others were stable. School officials say all four victims are expected to survive. Two suspects were taken into custody but it’s unclear whether they will face charges. Information on the victims wasn’t immediately release. Police say the investigation is ongoing.